Devices for Hanging Electronic Devices and Uses Thereof

ABSTRACT

Provided herein are devices for attaching a portable electronic device to a user&#39;s belt. This device comprises a base plate attachable to a waist belt, a socket board comprising a groove affixed on the base plate groove onto an outer surface of the base plate, a quick release plate removably slidable into the groove, and a double security assembly for releasably locking the quick release plate in the groove. The quick plate comprises a front portion, a back portion with an opening disposed through the front and back portions and a fastener disposed through the opening. A camera or other electronic device can be attached to this device by using the fastener.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This non-provisional application claims benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of Chinese Application No. 201520141515.3, filed Mar. 12, 2015, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Filed of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of accessories for electronic devices. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a device that hangs on a person's belt for attaching an electronic device thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

A camera is often accessorized with a camera strap for users to carry it around their necks, shoulders or arms. The main disadvantage for the camera strap is the inconveniences caused by camera uncontrollably swinging while the user is moving. There are various types of devices in the art for hanging a camera around a user's waist area.

There are, however, still quite a few drawbacks for these devices. For instance, one of the most used accessories for hanging a camera around the user's waist comprises a hanging part tied to the belt of the user's pants. This device comprises a hanging structure to a camera belt, a belt loop disposed on the backside of the hanging structure, and a connecting structure that fits in the screw hole at the bottom of a camera. This device attaches to the belt of a user via the belt loop. There is normally a security interface with a fast hanging structure facilitated on the front side of the hanging structure. The connecting structure can be a plug plate or a ball-head connector. However, there are a few disadvantages for using the device to hang a camera on a user.

Firstly, the plug plate or ball-head connector can only fit a camera to the hanging structure of this particular device. An extra converter has to be purchased to fit the device on a commonly used accessory such as a tripod or a monopod. Further, the device also is incompatible with the standard camera shoulder straps or wrist straps. Secondly, the ball-head connector, which hangs on the hanging part, can freely swing and rotate, resulting in inconvenience for the users to move freely, or possibly damaging the camera. Thirdly, the under layer between the hanging structure and the belt/pants of the user's is often made of soft nylon material, resulting in lack of support for the weight of the camera. Additionally, the soft nylon can cause the inconvenience when the user tries to remove the device from the belt due to increased friction.

Therefore, there is a recognized need for a device to quickly attach a camera, or any other portable electronic device onto a user's belt, which can also be conveniently attached to a tripod, or removed from the belt. The prior art is deficient in this respect. The present invention fulfills this long standing need and desire in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a device for carrying a portable electronic device on a user's belt. This device comprises a base plate removably attachable to a waist belt; a socket board comprising a groove affixed onto an outer surface of the base plate; a quick release plate removably slidable into the groove; and means for locking the quick release plate in the socket board.

The present invention is further directed to a device for attaching a portable electronic device to a user's waist area. This device comprises a base plate having a front surface and a back surface forming a waist belt slot; a socket board comprising a groove affixed onto the front surface of the base plate; a quick release plate removably slidable into groove and having a front portion and a concave open back portion with an opening therethrough and a fastener disposed through the opening; and a double security assembly for releasably securing the quick release plate into the groove.

The present invention is further directed to a system for attaching various portable electronic devices to a user's waist area. The system comprises the device as described supra, means for adapting a connector, such as a ¼ screw, to affix or hold electronic devices, and a utility bag for said device, said adapter and portable electronic devices that fits on the adapter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the matter in which the above-recited features, advantages and objects of the invention, as well as others that will become clear, are attained and can be understood in detail, more particular descriptions of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to certain embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. These drawings form a part of the specification. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and therefore are not to be considered limiting in their scope.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hanging device for an electronic device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base plate of the hanging device for an electronic device.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the socket board with a slide-in groove.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the quick release plate with fastener to a camera and a tripod head.

FIG. 5 shows the perspective views of the three main parts for the hanging device including a base plate, a socket board with a slide-in groove, and the quick release plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein in the specification, “a” or “an” may mean one or more. As used herein in the claim(s), when used in conjunction with the word “comprising”, the words “a” or “an” may mean one or more than one.

As used herein “another” or “other” may mean at least a second or more of the same or different claim element or components thereof. Similarly, the word “or” is intended to include “and” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. “Comprise” means “include.”

As used herein, the term “about” refers to a numeric value, including, for example, whole numbers, fractions, and percentages, whether or not explicitly indicated. The term “about” generally refers to a range of numerical values (e.g., +/−5-10% of the recited value) that one of ordinary skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited value (e.g., having the same function or result). In some instances, the term “about” may include numerical values that are rounded to the nearest significant figure.

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a device for carrying a portable electronic device on a user's belt. This device comprises a base plate removably attachable to a waist belt; a socket board a comprising a groove affixed onto an outer surface of the base plate; a quick release plate removably slidable into the groove; and means for locking the quick release plate onto the socket board.

In this embodiment, the base plate has an inner concave surface corresponding to a user's waist area. The base plate can be made of a wide variety of suitable materials, including but not limited to, nylon plastic, aluminum alloy, zinc alloy, resins or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the groove may comprise an interface.

In a preferred embodiment, the quick release plate comprises a front portion; a back portion insertable into the groove, the front and back portions having an opening therethrough; and a fastener disposed through the opening.

In this embodiment, the front portion comprises a pair of wrist belt slots formed from upper and lower edges thereof. The top portion may also comprise a padding disposed thereon. In this embodiment, the back portion of the quick release plate comprises a concave open surface at the center thereof. A concave open surface of the quick release plate comprises a D-ring affixed to the fastener.

In this embodiment, the means for locking the quick release plate comprises a double security assembly having a spring-controlled push button and level release mechanism. Representative exemplary materials that the socket board and quick release plate can be comprised of, include but are not limited to, nylon plastic, aluminum alloy, zinc alloy, resins, or a combination thereof.

In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a device for attaching a portable electronic device to a user's waist area. This device comprises a base plate having a front surface and a back surface forming a waist belt slot; a socket board comprising a groove affixed onto the front surface of the base plate; a quick release plate removably slidable into groove and having a front portion and a concave open back portion with an opening therethrough and a fastener disposed through the opening; and a double security assembly for releasably securing the quick release plate into the groove.

In this embodiment, the base plate may comprise a nylon plastic material. Then concave open back portion of the quick release plate comprises a D-ring affixed to the fastener. The quick release plate further comprises a padding disposed on the top thereof, preventing the plate scratching the camera. In a preferred embodiment, the quick release plate and the socket board comprise nylon plastic, aluminum alloy, zinc alloy, resins or a combination thereof. The double-security assembly comprises a spring-controlled push button and lever release mechanism.

In another embodiment of this invention, there is provided a system for attaching various portable electronic devices to a user's waist area. This system comprises the device as described supra; an adapter removably affixed to the fastener disposed on the quick release plate of the device; and a utility bag for said device, said adapter and portable electronic devices that fits on said adapter.

Representative examples of the portable electronic device include but are not limited to a camera, a smart phone, an action camera, a portable game console, or a tablet computer.

Provided herein is a device for quickly attaching a portable electronic device thereon and hanging it around a user's waist belt. The device is made of a stiff material, sufficiently supporting the weight of a camera or other electronic device. This device comprises a sector shaped base plate, a socket board with a slide-in groove, and a quick release plate removably slidable into the groove. The base plate is in direct contact with the user's pants/waist area, having a concave inner surface that fits the contour of the user's waist area. This base plate may be made of a tough nylon plastic or similar material. The socket board comprises a groove and a double security structure for limiting the movement of the quick release plate. The socket board is fixed on the base plate using six crews. The double security structure comprises a position limiting screw with a screw cap 12, a position limiting block 14, a release lever 13 disposed over the position limiting block 14, a locking block 15, and a spring disposed between the position limiting block 14 (FIG. 3). The double security structure is disposed at the left side and inside the left part the groove to secure the quick release plate from accidently releasing.

The quick release plate comprises front portion with a pair of wrist belt slots disposed on the edge thereof, and a back portion comprising an interface card slidable into the groove. An opening is disposed on the front and back portions at the center thereof. A fastener through the opening of the front and back portions is affixed to a D-ring. The D-ring is configured to allow a user to easily operate on the fastener manually. The top of the fastener is configured to fix a camera, other compatible electronic devices or other adapter for holding the electronic devices on the quick release plate. On the front surface of the quick release plate, there is provided a padding preventing the scratching between the camera and the quick release plate.

The D-ring attached to the bottom of fastener has a ¼ screw hole at the bottom thereof, allowing direct connection of the quick release plate to a camera accessory such as a tripod, or a monopod. The padding on the front surface of the quick release plate may be glued at the center of the quick releasing plate with an opening in the central point of the pad. The diameter of the opening may be less than ¼ inch.

The present invention uses a well-designed quick releasing plate comprising a bottom card for an interface, such as an Arca Swiss interface. This plate is able to connect to a tripod head and quickly slide into the socket board of the device. The socket board comprises a groove with an interface disposed thereon. A double security assembly is disposed on the left side of the groove. The socket board is fixed onto the base plate of the device via six screws. The inner surface of the base plate corresponds to the contour of the user's waist area. It allows the users to quickly hang the device around the waist area. The user then can connect a camera or other portable electronic device to the quick release plate via the fastener and slide it into the socket board. When the quick release plate slides all the way in the groove, the double security assembly stops the movement of the quick release plate, preventing the electronic device from sliding off the device.

Compared to the products on the market, the present invention exhibits a number of advantages. For example, this device enables the camera or other electronic device to conveniently attach to a regular strap, slide in the socket board or fix on a tripod or other accessories without any extra converter type of accessories. The device allows for a new way to safely secure a camera or other portable electronic device on the user's waist area, and enable the user to quickly slide the electronic device in and out the device. Additionally, the cost of manufacturing the device is relatively low.

As shown in the FIGS. 1-5, one embodiment of the present invention is a camera hanging device comprising a base plate 1, the socket board 2 with groove thereon, and a quick release plate 3 configured to removably slidable into the socket board 2.

The base plate 1 comprises a front surface 4 a and a back surface 4 b. Both front surface and the back surface comprise a concave inner surface 4 c to fit the contour of the user's waist area (FIG. 2). The socket board 2 comprises a groove 5, and the double security assembly 11-15 (FIG. 3). The groove 5 has an interface corresponds to the back portion of the quick release plate. The socket board 2 is affixed on an attaching portion 4 a of the base plate using six crews.

As shown in FIG. 4, the quick release board 3 comprises a front portion with a pair of wrist belt slots 8 around the edge thereof; and a back portion comprising a slid-in card 10 with an interface corresponding to the groove on the quick release plate. A fastener, for example a ¼ inch screw 6, passes through the central point of the front and back portions of the quick release plate 3. There is a circular shaped concave opening 9 at the bottom of the back portion of the quick release board, within which a D-ring 16 is affixed at the bottom of fastener. This D-ring allows a user to conveniently turn the screw manually. A circular rubber pad 7 is disposed on a corresponding circular concave on the front surface of the quick release plate, preventing the quick release board from scratching or damaging the electronic device attached thereon.

A camera is affixed to the top of the quick release board 3 by turning the ¼ inch screw through the standard screw hole at the bottom of the camera. Then, the quick release board alone with the camera is attached to the socket slide-in board by sliding the quick release board into the groove with an Arca Swiss interface.

Also provided is a method for manufacturing a device for hanging a camera or other electrical devices described supra. The method comprises the steps of producing a sector shaped base plate with a tough nylon plastic material; opening a set of screw holes corresponding to a set of screw holes on a socket slide-in board; producing the socket slide-in board and the quick release plate by aluminum die-casting; polishing the socket slide-in board and quick release plate; plating the surface of the socket slide-in board and the quick release plate; affixing a double security structure on the left side of the socket slide-in board for securing the quick release plate therein; drilling screw holes on the back of the socket slide-in board; drilling screw holes through the quick release plate at the central point thereof; attaching a circular rubber pad on top of the quick release pad; turning a ¼ screw through the screw hole in the quick release plate; affixing a half-ring handle at the bottom of the screw; and assembling the socket slide-in board to the base plate using a set of screws.

The device may be directly attached to the user's belt. A camera or other electronic device is affixed onto the top of the quick release plate using the fastener. The quick release plate then slides in the groove of the socket board.

More specifically, when a user needs to carry a camera or other portable electronic device around the waist area, the user attaches the electronic device to the top of the quick release plate by using the fastener. The user then slides the quick release plate into the groove on the socket board. The double security structure secures the quick release plate when it is all the way in the groove. The user can hang the whole device with attached camera around the waist area. When the camera or electronic device is needed, the user needs to first press the screw cap and the release button to release the quick release plate from the socket board. The screw holes, screws and other parts assembling are manufactured according to general industrial standards, allowing conveniently changing the parts. The device is also highly portable for all the camera users to carry with them. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for hanging a portable electronic device on a user's belt, comprising: a base plate removably attachable to a waist belt; a socket board comprising a groove affixed onto an outer surface of said base plate; a quick release plate removably slidable into said groove; and means for locking said quick release plate onto said socket board.
 2. The device of claim 1, said base plate has an inner concave surface positionable against a user's waist area.
 3. The device of claim 1, said base plate comprising nylon plastic, aluminum alloy, zinc alloy, resin or a combination thereof.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said groove comprises an interface.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein said quick release plate comprises a front portion; a back portion insertable into said groove, said front and back portions having an opening therethrough; and a fastener disposed through the opening
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein said front portion comprises a pair of wrist belt slots formed from upper and lower edges thereof.
 7. The device of claim 5, wherein the front portion of the quick release plate comprises a padding disposed thereon.
 8. The device of claim 5, wherein said back portion of the quick release plate comprises a concave open surface at the center thereof.
 9. The device of claim 5, wherein said concave open surface of the quick release plate comprises a D-ring affixed to the fastener.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein said means for locking the quick release plate comprises a double security assembly having a spring-controlled push button and lever release mechanism.
 11. The device of claim 1, said socket board and quick release plate comprise nylon plastic, aluminum alloy, zinc alloy, resins or a combination thereof.
 12. A device for attaching a portable electronic device to a user's waist area, comprising; a base plate having a front surface and a back surface forming a waist belt slot; a socket board comprising a groove affixed onto the front surface of said base plate; a quick release plate removably slidable into the groove and having a front portion and a concave open back portion with an opening therethrough and a fastener disposed through the opening; and a double security assembly for releasably securing said quick release plate into said groove.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein said base plate comprises a nylon plastic material.
 14. The device of claim 12, wherein said concave open back portion of the quick release plate comprises a D-ring affixed to the fastener.
 15. The device of claim 12, wherein said quick release plate further comprises a padding disposed on the front portion thereof.
 16. The device of claim 12, wherein said quick release plate and socket board comprise nylon plastic, aluminum alloy, zinc alloy, resins, or a combination thereof.
 17. The device of claim 12, wherein the double-security assembly comprises a spring-controlled push button and lever release mechanism.
 18. A system for attaching a portable electronic device to a user's waist area, comprising: the device of claim 1; an adapter removably affixed to the fastener disposed on the quick release plate of the device; and a utility bag for said device, said adapter and portable electronic devices that fits on said adapter.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein said electronic device comprises a camera, smart phone, an action camera, a portable game console, or a tablet computer. 